Piano-pedal attachment



June 22,1926. 4 1,590,012

W.DOUBETZ PIANO PEDAL ATTACHMENT File M y 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 22 1926.

W. DOUBETZ PIANO PEDAL ATTACHMENT Filed May 16. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 WM MW 9 a Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES WALTER DOUBETZ, Q1 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PIANO-PEDAL ATTACHMENT.

Application filed May 16, 1923. Serial No. 889,320.

This invention relates to piano-pedal attachments, and more particularly to means for operating the sound controlling pedals thereof, and has for its object the provision 6 of auxiliary pedals which are operatively connected to the sound regulating pedals, said auxiliary pedals being supported in an elevated position, so as to be within easy reach of the feet of smaller children when they are seated at the piano in playing position.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a piano showing theauxiliary pedal attachment in operative position with respect thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the invention, disconnected from the piano, andshowing the foldable extensions in open position in full lines and in closed position in dotted lines;

Fig. .3 is a top plan view of the invent-ion showing the foldable extensions in open position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the invention substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the means for engagement with the sound regulating pedals.

Convenient operation of the sound controlling pedals of a piano, by children, is rendered diflicult by reason of the distance from the top of the piano stool to the sound regulating pedals, which distance is often greater than the length of limb of said children, and consequently they are compelled to assume awkward positions in reaching for such pedals, or are compelled to forego their use entirely, during playing of the piano. My invention contemplates the provision of auxiliary pedals, corresponding in number to the sound regulating pedals ordinarily provided, which are placed in an elevated position. within easy reach of the feet of children, such auxiliary pedals bein g connected to the sound regulating pedals in such a manner that pressure upon the auxiliary pedals results in similar pressure upon the sound regulating pedals. It is here noted that although the attachment is illustrated and described herein in connection with a piano it is obvious that the same is ap licable to other musical instruments.

Re erring to the drawings 10 represents a fragment of a piano, which is provided with the ordinary sound regulating pedals 11. My invention preferably includes a four-legged stand or stool 12 having a fiat top 13. The'top 13 is preferably provided with apertures 14, which are preferably shaped as shown in the drawings, and swingably mounted at the outer end of each of the apertures 14, by means of a hinge 15, is an auxiliary pedal 16, one leaf of the hinge 15 being secured in position upon the top 13 of the stand, and the other leaf being secured to the top surface of the auxiliary pedal 16, such hinge o ning outwardly, so that the auxiliary ill is adapted for raising movement, but will not fall below the top 13 of the stand. The end of each of the auxiliary pedals 16 is provided with an elongated socket 17 ada ted to receive the end of a connecting mem er in the form of a rod 18, there being a pivot pin 19 extending across the socket 17 and through the end of the rod 18, so as to mount the same for pivotal movement. The lower end of rod 18 is rigidly mounted in an engaging member 20 by means of a socket 21 therein, which snu 1y receives the lower end of said rod there eing a pin 22 for securing the end of the rod in the socket 21. The engaging member 20 has a cavity 23 in its under surface, which is shaped to fit upon a sound regulating'pedal 11, the cavity preferably being'lined with felt 24 or other suitable material. Each of the engaging members 20, also has its outer end cut out as shown at 25, such cut out portion being adapted to engage the shank ordinarily provided upon the sound engaging pedals.

As many auxiliary pedals 16 may be provided as desired, and in this instance I have shown three of such pedals which correspond to the number of sound regulating pedals ordinarily provided upon a piano, and since all of t e auxiliary pedals are similar, except for small differences in shape, I have designated the parts of all of such pedals by similar reference numerals.

Preferably disposed on the under side of the top 13, so as to extend across the apertures 14: on the inner side of the rods 18 is a strip 26,- and on the opposite'sidesof the rods 18 is a similar strip 27, the strips being spaced apart a suiiicient distance to permit limited swinging movement of the rods 18. t is here noted that such strips serve to prevent excessive downward movement of the auxiliary pedals 16, so as to avoid consequent strain upon the hinges 15.

Preferably swingably connected to the ends of the stand 12, by means of hinges 28, are extensions 29, the hinges 28 being secured to the top 13 of the stand, and to" the upper" surfaces of the extensions 29, so that when,

such extensions are in open'position they will not fall downwardly to the sides but are sup-- ported by the inner edges thereof abutting the adjacent edges ofthe top- 18. The extensions 29- are of such lengtlrthat when' closed they entirely cover the-top 13 ofthe stand, so as to provide a stool which maybe,

used for many different purposes, the extensions preferably having casters 30 to prevent complete closing'of the same onto the top 13'; and it is also desired to provide theextensions 29 with a covering 31 of leather, or any other suitable material, so that when the extensions are closed the stand provides an attractive stool or foot rest.

By the above described arrangement when it is desired to use the auxiliary pedals of the stand the extensions 29 are turned out wardly, and the engaging portions '20Hare placed upon the sound regulating pedals 121, which causes upward swinging movement of the auxiliary ped'als lfi assh-own in Fig. 4,.

so that pressure upon the auxiliary pedals is communicated through the rods 18 to the sound regulating pedals i1. Attention iscalled to the fact that the strips 26, prevent excessive outward swinging of the rods 18, and so prevent such rods from swinging out of engagement with the sound controlling pedals 11, when the auxiliary pedals 16' are in elevated position. i

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form: of construction for carrying my invention into elfect, this iscapable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention; I,

therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but

desire to avail myselfo'f such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A piano-pedal attachment including a supporting member; an auxiliary pedal hinged thereto; an operating rod pivotally suspended from said auxiliary pedal and carrying a shoe for receiving therein a sound'eontrolling pedal, there being no connection between said rod and said supporting member save the pivoted connection through said auxiliary pedal, and means arranged to be engaged by the rod for limiting the swinging movement thereof, substantially as described.

2; A piano-pedal attachment including a supporting member; an auxiliary pedal hinged thereto; a pivoted operating rod suspended from the auxiliary pedal; a shoe carried thereby and recessed to fit upon a sound controlling pedal; and a strip positioned on the supporting member for engaging the rod tending across the undersides of the auxiliary pedals for engagement bythe rods to limit excessive movement thereof, whereby to maintain the shoes in engagement with their sound controlling pedals, substantially as described.

4. In combination with asupporting structure having a top with apertures provided therein; auxiliary pedals hinged. to said top and fitting said apertures; operating rods pivotally suspended from said auxiliary pedals and carrying shoes adapted to receive the sound controlling pedals of a piano; and strips arranged across said apertures on opposite sides of said rods for limiting the. upward and downward strokes of said rods, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

7 WALTER DOUBETZ. 

